Pistons hire Stan Van Gundy as coach, president

The Detroit Pistons are counting on Stan Van Gundy to bring some stability to a struggling franchise. They’re certainly giving him plenty of authority. The Pistons officially announced Van Gundy’s hiring Wednesday as their new coach and president of basketball operations. The team will introduce Van Gundy at …

The Detroit Pistons are counting on Stan Van Gundy to bring some stability to a struggling franchise. They’re certainly giving him plenty of authority. The Pistons officially announced Van Gundy’s hiring Wednesday as their new coach and president of basketball operations. The team will introduce Van Gundy at a news conference today. Detroit went 29-53 last season, missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year. That was the end of Joe Dumars’ tenure as team president. Coach Maurice Cheeks was fired in February. “Stan is a proven winner in our league,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. “He instills his teams with passion, purpose and toughness.” Van Gundy agreed to a $35 million, five-year contract. Dumars stepped down after 15 seasons in the front office. – AP